Day after FIR against Chandigarh councillor’s kin, BJP seeks inquiry, security

A delegation of the BJP led by city president Jatinder Pal Malhotra has demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident of registration of FIR against Komal Sharma, sister-in-law of BJP councillor Suman Sharma from ward No. 4, Chandigarh, who recently left the AAP to join the BJP.

The delegation submitted a memorandum to Chief Secretary H Prasad today. The delegation also demanded an FIR against AAP leader Sunny Ahluwalia and strict action against any police officer found acting under political pressure or violating the law. Complete security for all BJP councillors and their family members and an assurance that Punjab Police would not encroach upon the jurisdiction of UT in the future to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

While submitting the memorandum, Malhotra stated that the FIR was lodged against Komal with the intention of intimidating, harassing and exerting political pressure on an elected representative and her family. Malhotra informed the Chief Secretary that the FIR was registered without any legal basis, and the hasty action taken by Punjab Police without proper coordination with Chandigarh Police amounted to a blatant violation of established legal procedures. He said that the timing, manner and intent of the incident clearly indicated that this was a deliberate act of political vendetta.

The state president also stated that BJP councillors had been receiving threats for several days and were being subjected to political pressure. He said that the misuse of inter-state police machinery was not only gross abuse of power, but also a violation of the safeguards under the Criminal Procedure Code and an attempt to suppress democratic dissent.

The BJP delegation urged the Chief Secretary to take swift and concrete steps to uphold the rule of law, ensure political neutrality of the police and protect democratic values.

The other leaders who were part of the delegation included state general secretary Rambir Bhatti, Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, councillors Suman Sharma, Saurabh Joshi and Naresh Panchal.